Palms Sunday - Doing the best I can is NOT what God is looking for. Looking for a different take of Palm Sunday? Here it is.

Over 2000 years ago the Sadducees had a tradition they believed the Messiah would show up four days before Passover. They kept the gates of the Temple open so that he could walk right into his rightful place. Hebrew nationalistic fervor was always at its peak on this particular day. The Romans
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Galatians 3:16 talks about the fact that Jesus was the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham’s seed? But why did Paul say that and what can it mean to us today?

OPEN: In my files I have list of some unusual laws:
· In Birmingham, Alabama, it is illegal to drive a car while blindfolded.
· In Detroit it’s unlawful to tie a crocodile to a fire hydrant.
· Natchez, Mississippi has a law that forbids giving an elephant beer to drink.
· And if you tie your
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The princess of Egypt knew that God’s law superseded the state’s law; and chose to act for compassion and justice.

As I began this series of three messages on the theme, Designing Women, last week, I said that we were going to be looking for qualities of leadership out of the stories of those women mentioned in the roll call of faith known as the 11th chapter of Hebrews.
You’ll remember that I pointed out
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The writer to the Hebrews encouraged his audience to pursue a radically transformed/cleansed conscience. People(with religious tendencies--everyone!) are in need of a radically transformed conscience. How can we pursue it? The pursuit of a clear consci

In PURSUIT Of A CLEAR/Cleansed CONSCIENCE—Hebrews 9:1-14
Attention:
A young boy called the pastor of a local church to ask the pastor to come by to pray for his mother who had been very ill with the flu. The pastor knew the family & was aware they were members of another church down the
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Chapter 26: 1 – 21
The #1 Answer In Counseling
1 In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks. 2 Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in. 3 You will keep him in
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Christian liberty how can we ever go back when we have recieved so much in Him?

ARTICLE 21. CHRISTIAN LIBERTY AND LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE
TODAY WERE LOOKING AT THE CHRISTIAN LIBERTY IN LIFE CONSCIENCE AND CONDUCT AS FOUND IN ARTICLE 21 OF THE BAPTIST CONFESSION OF FAITH 1689.
OUR CHRISTIAN LIBERTY IS CENTRED UPON CHRIST AND IS EFFECTIVE THROUGH THE PERSON AND WORK OF
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New Year's Day 1989: Jonah, running from his responsibility, fell asleep. It might have been the sleep of a rationalized conscience; or depression. But a greater than Jonah is here, Christ, who can heal both conscience and soul.

It's not easy to stay out of the storms, no matter what escape you plan. It's just not easy to keep from getting rained on and buffeted around when the storm is coming, no matter what means you use to take shelter.
This week, on the afternoon of the sudden squall, I had gone home to attend to
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Today, I want to take this passage and preach a message I am calling Resurrecting a Dead Conscience. I want us to learn what the conscience is, want it does, and how it can be protected. I want to show you, from these verses, How the Conscience Is Seared;

RESURRECTING A DEAD CONSCIENCE
Genesis 41:54-42:8
Introduction
Some 21 years have passed since Joseph was sold into slavery. The passage we have before us today allows us to see many of the events of this man’s life come full circle. Joseph sees his brothers again after 21 years. The
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When the prosperous no longer recognize the source of their prosperity, they become ungrateful. And their ingratitude eventually evolves into greed.

Idea: When the prosperous no longer recognize the source of their prosperity, they become ungrateful. And their ingratitude eventually evolves into greed.
By eliminating God from our national conversation, we eliminate our ability to publically recognize the source of our prosperity. This
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Idea: No God. No gratitude. No accountability. No moral consensus regarding right and wrong. Law replaces national conscience.

Idea: No God. No gratitude. No accountability. No moral consensus regarding right and wrong. Law replaces national conscience.
Introduction/Review
* For these two weeks, I'm putting on my prophet's hat.
* Several of the issues we face as a nation intersect with biblical principles.
* So, I
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Peter and John before the Sanhedrin provide an example of how the child of God is to respond to pressure from the world to conform to low expectations.

“When [the guards] had brought [Peter and John before the council], they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, ‘We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood
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A dramatic monologue with Thaddeus after the resurrection. For use with communion.

A Visit to the Upper Room
A Dramatic Monologue
The setting is the upper room.
The character is Thaddeus, one of the 12. He is straightening the room.
Opening:
Thaddeus turns is acts surprised to see someone.
Oh, Hi there! You startled me. I did not expect anyone to be up here with me.
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A message preached at a legislative prayer breakfast to challenge listeners to stay true to their convictions.

“The Challenge of Conformity”
Dan 3:1-30
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Daniel 3:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
INTRODUCTION: What is
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There are men who think that God just watches only the daring and glaring sins but turns a blind eye to the others. Not so, let me very clearly point out that He watches all!

Psalms 7:9’Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, But establish the just; For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds.’
Some of the super-duper looters (government ministers) have said: ‘watch, I will come out clean.’ Well, we see umpteen of such cases
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God has the power to transform you. Regardless of past sins, God can and will forgive you and allow you a new beginning.

Come now, let us argue this out,” says the LORD. “No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it. I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you as white as wool. (Isaiah 1:18 NLT)
My dear brothers and sisters,
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